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1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.3How To Shorten Your Author Bio (Without Leaving Out the Good Stuff!) | Writer’s Reliefhttps://writersrelief.com/2019/09/13/how-to-shorten-your-author-bio-without-leaving-out-the-good-stuff-writers-relief/
https://writersrelief.com/2019/09/13/how-to-shorten-your-author-bio-without-leaving-out-the-good-stuff-writers-relief/#respondFri, 13 Sep 2019 18:46:07 +0000https://writersrelief.com/?p=42911If you’re serious about getting published, then it’s important to have your short author bio ready for cover letters, query letters, marketing materials for events where you’ll be speaking or reading, and even for some literary journals when you get an acceptance. Your author bio is one of the first things busy editors and agents […]]]>

If you’re serious about getting published, then it’s important to have your short author bio ready for cover letters, query letters, marketing materials for events where you’ll be speaking or reading, and even for some literary journals when you get an acceptance. Your author bio is one of the first things busy editors and agents will see when looking over your submission—so, short and to the point is the way to go. If you’re just starting out, keeping your author bio brief is simple. But what if you have lots of credentials, awards, and publications? How do you shorten your author bio without leaving out important information?

Smart Ways To Keep Your Author Bio Short But Informative

Update Your Credits. One of the biggest considerations when writing a short author bio is deciding which publication credits are important enough to include. The more you regularly submit work, the more opportunities you’ll have to be accepted by literary journals. This is a great situation for any writer to be in!

But as the list of your publications grows, it is definitely possible to have too many credits included in your bio. Sure, having a list of three dozen magazines that accepted your work looks impressive—and you earned it! But a busy literary agent or editor won’t necessarily sit and read through paragraphs of your accomplishments. Instead, include only your eight best credits, followed by “among others.” And be sure to weed out older acceptances, especially if they’re in journals that are not well recognized.

Talk About Yourself (Briefly). You should definitely include any relevant education, writing conferences, volunteer work, or writing groups you belong to. But a common mistake many writers make in their author bios is delving too much into their personal life. A little bit of personal information helps agents and editors get to know the writer behind the work, and that can help you stand out from the crowd. Here at Writer’s Relief, we’ve seen editors comment positively after reading in cover letters that one writer is a jazz pianist on weekends, and another is restoring an old farmhouse circa 1764.

And if you’ve written a book and have some expertise in the topic, it’s a good idea to mention this in your query letter’s author bio. If you’re an optometrist and your book is about a killer who uses poisoned eye drops, mentioning your knowledge in this area shows your book will be accurate. But you don’t need to include that you decided to become an optometrist when you watched Mr. Magoo as a five-year-old.

However, if you’ve written a short story based on your travels in Spain, or your poetry is inspired by the time you spend in your organic garden as you contemplate the buttercups—this is information that can be left out of your cover letter. Literary editors are more interested in the actual writing and will focus on your submission. They don’t want to spend a minute more on your cover letter than absolutely necessary.

Reference Your Author Website. Always include the URL to your author website and a short statement inviting the reader to take a look and learn more about you. Your author website is where you can have a full list of your accomplishments, accolades, and publication credits. If an agent or editor is intrigued by you and your writing, they can find all the details and more on your author website.

Don’t have an author website? Unsure of how to go about making one? Never fear—we can help with that! Check out our Web Design Relief services for more information!

Publishing industry standards suggest your author bio should be only one paragraph long. Sometimes, when you have work accepted by a literary journal, you’ll be asked for an even shorter two- to three-sentence bio. Simply take your standard bio and cut it down.

Also: When creating your basic author bio, be careful that you don’t strip it back so much that it becomes too short. A vague sentence or two about your deep spiritual connection to writing offers no real information about you. Keep your information specific and relevant.

Here’s more on how to make sure your author bio is the best it can be:

]]>https://writersrelief.com/2019/09/13/how-to-shorten-your-author-bio-without-leaving-out-the-good-stuff-writers-relief/feed/0Your Favorite Book Format Reveals A Lot About You | Writer’s Reliefhttps://writersrelief.com/2019/09/12/your-favorite-book-format-reveals-a-lot-about-you-writers-relief/
https://writersrelief.com/2019/09/12/your-favorite-book-format-reveals-a-lot-about-you-writers-relief/#respondThu, 12 Sep 2019 14:59:09 +0000https://writersrelief.com/?p=42900Hardcover? Paperback? E-book? Audio? There is no wrong way to read. Each format provides readers with a unique experience. But which book format are you most like? Flexible like a paperback? Solid like a hardcover book? Find out with this quiz Writer’s Relief found on bookriot.com! Quiz: Which book format are you? ]]>

Hardcover? Paperback? E-book? Audio? There is no wrong way to read. Each format provides readers with a unique experience. But which book format are you most like? Flexible like a paperback? Solid like a hardcover book? Find out with this quiz Writer’s Relief found on bookriot.com!

]]>https://writersrelief.com/2019/09/12/your-favorite-book-format-reveals-a-lot-about-you-writers-relief/feed/05 Must-Read Books About 9/11 | Writer’s Reliefhttps://writersrelief.com/2019/09/11/5-must-read-books-about-9-11-writers-relief/
https://writersrelief.com/2019/09/11/5-must-read-books-about-9-11-writers-relief/#respondWed, 11 Sep 2019 12:39:37 +0000https://writersrelief.com/?p=42881For many, the memories of September 11, 2001 are still strong and heartfelt. Today, Writer’s Relief brings you a list of five must-read books about 9/11 from writers who have chosen to share their compelling memories and experiences with us. The Best Books To Read About 9/11 102 Minutes: The Unforgettable Story of the […]]]>

For many, the memories of September 11, 2001 are still strong and heartfelt. Today, Writer’s Relief brings you a list of five must-read books about 9/11 from writers who have chosen to share their compelling memories and experiences with us.

The Best Books To Read About 9/11

102 Minutes looks at the events of September 11 from the perspectives of hundreds of people who were personally involved with or affected by them. The writers employ an almost-real-time method to relay these testimonials, using interview notes as well as e-mail and radio transcripts to deliver a unique retelling of the many stories of the people involved in this tragedy.

A behind-the-scenes look at the events leading up to September 11, The Looming Tower follows the lives of Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri—two of the leaders of al-Qaeda—and two of the men tasked with bringing them to justice, FBI Counterterrorism Chief John O’Neill and Director of Saudi Arabia General Intelligence Directorate Turki al-Faisal. Adapted for television in 2018, this book is as relevant today as when it was written in 2006.

In Report from Ground Zero, former firefighter Dennis Smith delivers an account of the rescue and recovery efforts from not only his point of view but also from that of his colleagues. The first part of the book focuses on these firsthand accounts of the first responders at Ground Zero, while the second part deals with his own experiences in the aftermath of the attacks. This book was also the basis for a two-hour documentary.

An estimated 300 dogs played a very important part in the search-and-rescue missions of September 11. However, there was one dog, Roselle, whose sole purpose that day was to guide her blind master from the World Trade Center’s North Tower to safety. Thunder Dog is her remarkable, true story.

One of the earliest fiction books written on the subject of September 11—and later adapted for a movie starring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock—Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close relates the tale of a nine-year-old boy as he searches for the lock that fits a key that belonged to his father, who perished in the September 11 attacks. It is a thought-provoking tale that is both beautiful and tragic.

Question: Which books about 9/11 have you read?

]]>https://writersrelief.com/2019/09/11/5-must-read-books-about-9-11-writers-relief/feed/0Writer: Are You A Plotter or Pantser? Take This Quiz Now! | Writer’s Reliefhttps://writersrelief.com/2019/09/06/writer-are-you-a-plotter-or-pantser-take-this-quiz-now-writers-relief/
https://writersrelief.com/2019/09/06/writer-are-you-a-plotter-or-pantser-take-this-quiz-now-writers-relief/#respondFri, 06 Sep 2019 14:21:42 +0000https://writersrelief.com/?p=42862There is no right or wrong way to write a novel. But there are two main writing strategies authors often use when writing a book—and they both have funny names. Are you a “plotter” or a “pantser”? Not sure? Writer’s Relief offers you the definition of each, along with a quick quiz you can take […]]]>

There is no right or wrong way to write a novel. But there are two main writing strategies authors often use when writing a book—and they both have funny names. Are you a “plotter” or a “pantser”? Not sure? Writer’s Relief offers you the definition of each, along with a quick quiz you can take now to help you decide which writing style works best for you.

Are You A Plotter?

Plotters outline their stories before writing them. (More on how to outline here.) They know all the details—characters, plot, subplots, climax, and resolution—before they write a single word. This prewriting strategy means more work up front, but less chance of developing writer’s block during the process, because plotters know exactly where they’re going. They have a handy map to lead them to their destination and keep them on course. Plotters tend to write more efficiently and finish novels more quickly than pantsers.

But before you decide that this is the way to go, hold on: There are some cons to being a plotter. For instance, if a plotter wants to change the outline, this generally involves changes to other chapters. Reconfiguring an outline is often more daunting than creating one from scratch, as each chapter may be affected by a change that happens in one. Also, because less creativity is involved in the writing process, it can start to feel more like a chore and become mundane. Let’s face it, planning every detail of anything—whether it’s a vacation or a novel—doesn’t leave much room for misadventure or happy accidents.

Other plotters include R.L. Stine, Dan Brown, and the fantasy author Brandon Sanderson.

Are You A Pantser?

Pantsers are considered the free-spirited artists of the writing world because they tend to fly by the seat of their pants when crafting a story (hence the moniker “pants-er”). They let their characters establish themselves and allow the plot to unfold on its own. It’s less work up front, but more during the actual writing process. And though pantsers may have a vague idea about direction, they’re not interested in following a map. As a result, any twists and turns in the story feel more natural because they were not planned.

Sounds way more creative, fun, and adventurous, right? Who wouldn’t want to be a pantser? Well, creative freedom doesn’t come without a cost: Pantsers are more likely to fall victim to writer’s block. (Check out these 3-word prompts to break through writer’s block.) When they get stuck, some pantsers simply move on to another project, leaving behind an unfinished story or novel. They tend to have a computer full of works in progress. But this doesn’t mean they aren’t—or can’t become—successful writers.

Stephen King is a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants kind of writer. That’s right, he’s a pantser! In his book On Writing, he argues that he can tell which books have been outlined because they feel somewhat stale.

Margaret Atwood is also a pantser and compares creating a story using the structure of an outline to paint-by-numbers.

And this may be a little surprising, but George R.R. Martin is another pantser.

A Plotter, A Pantser, Or Somewhere In Between? Take This Quiz And Find Out!

True or False:

When planning a trip, I always make sure to have a tour guide.

On the shelves of my personal library, the books are methodically organized.

I always make a grocery list before shopping.

I panic when I get lost.

When going out to eat at a specific restaurant, I research the menu online beforehand.

My sock drawer is categorized by color.

I have my clothes for work laid out and ready to go the night before.

I MapQuest everything including my trips out to the backyard shed.

The sheets in my linen closet (even the fitted ones) look like they have been meticulously folded by Martha Stewart.

If you answered TRUE to 4 or fewer, it looks like you may be a pantser.

Have exactly 5 TRUES? Guess what? You are a little of both—also known as a plantser. This method is widely used by many writers who understand the advantages of plotting out a novel while also giving the characters free will.

Of course, the strategy you employ to craft a story is simply a personal preference. One method is no better than the other—what’s important is finding the method that works best for you. If you need help getting started, check out these articles on our blog:

Question: Can you tell when a book has been plotted as opposed to pantsed? How?

]]>https://writersrelief.com/2019/09/06/writer-are-you-a-plotter-or-pantser-take-this-quiz-now-writers-relief/feed/0Salinger’s Books Are Finally Going Digital | Writer’s Reliefhttps://writersrelief.com/2019/09/05/salingers-books-are-finally-going-digital-writers-relief/
https://writersrelief.com/2019/09/05/salingers-books-are-finally-going-digital-writers-relief/#respondThu, 05 Sep 2019 14:50:03 +0000https://writersrelief.com/?p=42852 J.D. Salinger, who scorned computers, technology, and the Internet, might be spinning in his grave at the news that his work is going digital. Almost ten years after his death, Salinger’s books are now available in eBook format. In an article on BBC.com, Writer’s Relief learned that the catalyst for this decision came when the […]]]>

J.D. Salinger, who scorned computers, technology, and the Internet, might be spinning in his grave at the news that his work is going digital. Almost ten years after his death, Salinger’s books are now available in eBook format. In an article on BBC.com, Writer’s Relief learned that the catalyst for this decision came when the author’s son, Matt, received a letter from a disabled woman who had a difficult time reading print. In order to make his father’s work more accessible to all readers, Matt decided to finally allow the books to be offered as eBooks.

]]>https://writersrelief.com/2019/09/05/salingers-books-are-finally-going-digital-writers-relief/feed/0How Publishing Excerpts Can Help Get Your Book Published | Writer’s Reliefhttps://writersrelief.com/2019/09/04/how-publishing-excerpts-can-help-get-your-book-published-writers-relief/
https://writersrelief.com/2019/09/04/how-publishing-excerpts-can-help-get-your-book-published-writers-relief/#commentsWed, 04 Sep 2019 15:21:17 +0000https://writersrelief.com/?p=42839Querying literary agents about your book and publishing short prose in literary journals are two very different things—but they can both have the same result! Many book authors are so focused on the hunt for a literary agent that they completely brush aside the idea of spending time submitting work to literary journals. But here’s […]]]>

Querying literary agents about your book and publishing short prose in literary journals are two very different things—but they can both have the same result! Many book authors are so focused on the hunt for a literary agent that they completely brush aside the idea of spending time submitting work to literary journals. But here’s an insider’s tip from Writer’s Relief: Submitting small parts of your book—or excerpts—to literary magazines and having them published is a great way to grab an agent’s attention! Yes, publishing excerpts can actually help get your book published.

Why You Should Consider Submitting Stand-Alone Book Excerpts To Literary Journals

You may be thinking, “I’m concentrating all my efforts on getting my book published—why should I take a detour and submit to literary journals?” But savvy writers know that publishing excerpts isn’t a detour; it’s a stepping-stone. Here’s why:

Publishing excerpts will create buzz for your book. One of the biggest considerations for literary agents in deciding whether to take on a project is the book’s marketability. Literary agents look through journals in search of up-and-coming writers. Seeing that you have excerpts published in literary journals will show there is already interest in your writing, story, and characters.

Excerpts will build your audience. Publishing parts of your book as short stories will get the ball rolling on creating a readership for your book. And literary fans are incredibly loyal—if they love your excerpts, they’ll be more likely to read the entire book when it’s published. Having a built-in audience shows agents that your book has sales potential.

Excerpts look great in your author bio! In the hyper-competitive publishing world, it’s imperative that you set yourself apart with an impressive bio in your query letter. It’s important for any hopeful book author to demonstrate a strong publishing history—but even better when you can show that the publication credits are from your current book project! Having an excerpt published speaks to the quality of the writing—obviously, an editor felt the writing was strong enough and the story intriguing enough to publish it. The fact that you’ve published excerpts will also show literary agents how serious you are about doing the necessary work for your book as a whole.

Make sure your excerpt can stand alone. Many writers choose to take the first chapter of their books to market as an individual story—it often has the best potential to stand on its own. However, you can choose an excerpt from any point in your book—even the very end! (Interesting fact: The novel Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk got its start as a seven-page short story.)

But the most important factor is that the excerpt MUST be able to stand on its own as a story. Literary editors aren’t interested in the fact that the story is part of a book—they’re interested in giving their readers a great story. Look for a place in your book where the tension builds and character development shines.

Consider an excerpt based on your book—not directly from it. Are you having trouble finding a good snippet of your novel or memoir to market on its own? Consider writing a story or essay that’s inspired by your book! Publishing a “deleted scene” from your book can also serve as great buzz—and that extra work could really help you get to know the characters and events in your book better!

The book you excerpt from doesn’t need to be finished. Just as you can publish an excerpt from your book before it comes out, you can publish an excerpt before the book is even completed! This can be another great writing tool and help you get a better sense of which plotlines and characters are going to be most popular—so you can revise your book as necessary!

Excerpts Make For A Great Publishing Strategy!

Even if you’ve never written short prose before, it’s a smart marketing strategy to submit excerpts while you’re querying literary agents. Being able to say in your query letter, “My short story, ‘XXX,’ an excerpt from this novel, was published in XXX Magazine” will be a great confidence booster about the potential success of your book—and is sure to intrigue literary agents! After all, your query letter is the time to brag as much as you can (humbly!).

If you’re having trouble navigating the ins and outs of literary journal submissions, Writer’s Relief is here to help! We have 25+ years of experience in targeting the best journals for every writer’s work, as well as pinpointing the right agents to query for book writers. Submit your work to our Review Board today!

Question: Have you written a book? If so, how would you choose an excerpt from your manuscript to submit to literary journals?

]]>https://writersrelief.com/2019/09/04/how-publishing-excerpts-can-help-get-your-book-published-writers-relief/feed/1Featured Client: Kathleen Z. McCormick | Writer’s Reliefhttps://writersrelief.com/2019/08/29/featured-client-kathleen-z-mccormick-writers-relief/
https://writersrelief.com/2019/08/29/featured-client-kathleen-z-mccormick-writers-relief/#respondThu, 29 Aug 2019 15:20:05 +0000https://writersrelief.com/?p=42818Click on the video above to hear about Kathleen Z. McCormick’s publishing experience with Writer’s Relief! Our featured client Kathleen Zamboni McCormick has been submitting work for almost as long as Writer’s Relief has been in business! She’s been published in many journals, including Zone 3, Crack the Spine, Phoebe, Green Hills Literary Lantern, and […]]]>

Click on the video above to hear about Kathleen Z. McCormick’s publishing experience with Writer’s Relief!

Our featured client Kathleen Zamboni McCormick has been submitting work for almost as long as Writer’s Relief has been in business! She’s been published in many journals, including Zone 3,Crack the Spine,Phoebe,Green Hills Literary Lantern, and more. And her first novel, Dodging Satan: My Irish/Italian Sometimes Awesome but Mostly Creepy Childhood (Sand Hill Review Press, 2016), had excerpts published in literary journals—which helped her land a literary agent!

Read on and watch the video to hear how Writer’s Relief has helped Kathleen connect with that literary agent and get published!

In Kathleen’s Own Words

I began working with Writer’s Relief back in late 2003 when they were pretty new themselves (Writer’s Relief started helping writers in 1994) and I’d just begun to write creatively. A friend said he thought I was such a good oral storyteller that I should try writing and publishing short stories. I’d already published a number of books and scores of articles as a professor of literature. So I decided to subscribe to Poets& Writers, which he said would “fill me in on everything.” I still remember the panic as I looked at the dizzying number of calls for creative work and the infinite ads for prizes. I bought some literary journals—things weren’t available online back then—that I thought my writing might be a good match for based on what I’d read in Poets & Writers. Invariably, when reading each literary journal, I felt they wouldn’t accept my work. I’d spent my whole career reading and publishing in academic journals—and I felt the enormous gap between my intimate understanding of academic publishing and my complete lack of knowledge of literary journals.

About to give up before I’d even begun, it was due to complete luck that I discovered in Poets & Writers an unassuming ad for Writer’s Relief. In about four lines they explained that they knew the literary market extremely well—and if clients supplied the creative work, they’d match it up with journals that would likely be interested in it. I wrote to them immediately, and for about five years (2004–2009), Writer’s Relief found homes for approximately three to four stories a year. I’ve had over twenty-five creative publications because of Writer’s Relief.

I came back to Writer’s Relief when I’d put a book together, and they helped me find a literary agent. Each chapter of my first novel, Dodging Satan: My Irish/Italian Sometimes Awesome but Mostly Creepy Childhood (Sand Hill Review Press, 2016), had originally been published as a stand-alone story under the guidance of Writer’s Relief.

So now that I’m working on a second book, I’m back for the discipline, the support—I hope the success!—and the sense of being part of a writing community that Writer’s Relief provides.

More About Kathleen

Kathleen is a professor of literature and writing at Purchase College, SUNY. Her academic books include The Culture of Reading and the Teaching of English (MLA Mina Shaughnessy Award), the co-edited MLA’s Approaches to Teaching James Joyce’s Ulysses and Approaches to Teaching Italian American Literature, Film, and Popular Culture, among others.

Her first novel, Dodging Satan: My Irish/Italian Sometimes Awesome but Mostly Creepy Childhood (Sand Hill Review Press, 2016), received strong reviews and won the 2017 Foreword Reviews Gold Medal in Humor and the 2017 Illumination Bronze Medal for Catholic Books (Pope Francis won the Gold!), along with other awards in humor and religion. In June, she received the 2019 Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Award. Named for the first woman in history to receive a PhD, this award recognizes outstanding Italian-American scholars for their significant contributions to their profession and their communities. One of the areas of excellence cited by the award committee was McCormick’s creative work featuring Italian-American characters.

]]>https://writersrelief.com/2019/08/29/featured-client-kathleen-z-mccormick-writers-relief/feed/0Want To Be A Book Editor? Here’s How! | Writer’s Reliefhttps://writersrelief.com/2019/08/29/want-to-be-a-book-editor-heres-how-writers-relief/
https://writersrelief.com/2019/08/29/want-to-be-a-book-editor-heres-how-writers-relief/#commentsThu, 29 Aug 2019 13:19:26 +0000https://writersrelief.com/?p=42813Writer: Got what it takes to become a book editor? In this article on BookRiot.com, Writer’s Relief learned that some editors work a day job and freelance edit in the evening, while others work for large publishing companies. And there are many different types of book editors: content editors, copy editors, proofreaders, managing editors, and […]]]>

Writer: Got what it takes to become a book editor? In this article on BookRiot.com, Writer’s Relief learned that some editors work a day job and freelance edit in the evening, while others work for large publishing companies. And there are many different types of book editors: content editors, copy editors, proofreaders, managing editors, and more!

If you’d like to learn more pros and cons of becoming a book editor, check out this guide for breaking into the profession.

]]>https://writersrelief.com/2019/08/29/want-to-be-a-book-editor-heres-how-writers-relief/feed/1Writers: How To Come Up With A Great Title—Ask Writer’s Reliefhttps://writersrelief.com/2019/08/28/writers-how-to-come-up-with-a-great-title-ask-writers-relief/
https://writersrelief.com/2019/08/28/writers-how-to-come-up-with-a-great-title-ask-writers-relief/#respondWed, 28 Aug 2019 12:37:24 +0000https://writersrelief.com/?p=42778Sometimes, writing an entire book—or poem, or short story, or personal essay—can seem much easier than coming up with a great title! And if selecting the absolute best title to accurately reflect your work isn’t daunting enough, the enormous pressure to make sure it’s unique enough to grab attention can quickly throw a cold bucket […]]]>

Sometimes, writing an entire book—or poem, or short story, or personal essay—can seem much easier than coming up with a great title! And if selecting the absolute best title to accurately reflect your work isn’t daunting enough, the enormous pressure to make sure it’s unique enough to grab attention can quickly throw a cold bucket of water on your creative fire.

Put down that red pen and pick up those tossed-aside, crumpled papers—Writer’s Relief is here to help! Our first “Ask Writer’s Relief” column has the answers and inspiration you need.

Ask Writer’s Relief: “How Do I Come Up With A Great Title For My Book, Poem, Story, Or Essay?”

Here are some informative articles: Some were written by Writer’s Relief staff members and others were culled from great sources around the Internet to help you choose the perfect title for your writing!

How To Come Up With A Great Title For Your Book Or Story | Writer’s Relief. If you’ve written a great book or story, you need a title that is going to evoke the mood and central conflict of your plot/themes/concerns. You have to pack a punch into just a few words. This article will connect you to great story title ideas by dissecting some of the most interesting and memorable titles of all time.

Coming Up With The Perfect Title For Your Novel. This great article from a group of freelance book editors includes a fun list of “working” book titles that never hit the shelves. For example: Of Mice and Men might have been published as Something That Happened!

Article Title Generator. Though more for journalists than creative writers, this article title generator prompts you to plug in a keyword; then it calculates a ton of article and blog post ideas for you!

Book Title Generator. Choose your keywords and genre, and then click through to see title recommendations from this book title generator. Though it may not give you a title you’ll actually use, it could get the gears turning in your mind and lead you to an incredible book, story, or poem title.

Remember, Titles Aren’t Always Forever

As submission experts who have been helping writers get published since 1994, we want to put your mind at ease about finding the perfect title. Literary agents and editors know that sometimes writers don’t get their titles exactly right during the submission process. So if you’ve finished a book, story, or poem, and it’s ready to be submitted except for that pesky title, don’t hold off. Just indicate that your title is a “working title” in your cover or query letter if you’re feeling unsure. But also take heart in knowing that your future literary agent or editor just might be willing to help you come up with a spot-on title.

Question: Which of your own titles is your favorite? Share it in our comments section.

]]>https://writersrelief.com/2019/08/28/writers-how-to-come-up-with-a-great-title-ask-writers-relief/feed/0It’s Versus Its: How To Get It Right When Writing | Writer’s Reliefhttps://writersrelief.com/2019/08/27/its-versus-its-how-to-get-it-right-when-writing-writers-relief/
https://writersrelief.com/2019/08/27/its-versus-its-how-to-get-it-right-when-writing-writers-relief/#respondTue, 27 Aug 2019 16:27:17 +0000https://writersrelief.com/?p=42790Today at Writer’s Relief we’re going to reveal the hard facts about the pronoun Its and the contraction It’s. These two troublemakers are identical in sound and, except for that jaunty, devil-may-care apostrophe, very similar in appearance. But beware, writers: It’s and Its have a reputation for pretending to be the same word—they delight in […]]]>

Today at Writer’s Relief we’re going to reveal the hard facts about the pronoun Its and the contraction It’s. These two troublemakers are identical in sound and, except for that jaunty, devil-may-care apostrophe, very similar in appearance. But beware, writers: It’s and Its have a reputation for pretending to be the same word—they delight in being a source of embarrassment in social media posts and have earned the distinction of being one of the top pet peeves of literary editors and publishers.

Don’t become an unsuspecting victim of the subtle switcheroos pulled by It’s or Its! When it comes to It’s versus Its, our fact-finding mission exposes how to get “IT” right when writing. We’ve invited the infamous duo to our interrogation room to clear up some misconceptions.

It’s Or Its: Grammar Tips Ripped From The Headlines Of Short Stories, Poems, And Essays

WR: Thank you both for joining us. Each of you, please state your name and relevant background information.

IT’S: I’m It’s, and I’m a contraction, which is a set of words shortened into one with the use of an apostrophe. There are many of us contractions working in the world of grammar. Consider me the compact version of it has or it is.

ITS: And I’m Its, a personal pronoun. There’s a bunch of us as well. Only we don’t need fancy accessories like the apostrophe to make us work.

WR: Okay. Well, we’ve heard the rumors. Isn’t one of you possessed? Which one is it?

IT’S: Don’t look at me. [crosses arms]

WR: But you have the apostrophe, and in the English language, this signifies possession. True or False?

IT’S: True. Most words indicating possession have an apostrophe S (’s) at the end. Not the Linda Blair kind of possession. The ownership kind. However, for some personal reason, Its is already in its possessive form. Very strange if you ask me.

WR: So, Its is the possessive one?

IT’S: Clearly. Can’t you see the way he makes everything his? Look at this:

Cathy wanted to wear her favorite accessory to the rodeo, but the belt had lost its giant, two-pound silver horseshoe belt buckle.

Mackenzie’s horse stuck its hoof in the dog’s water bowl and created a mess in the kitchen.

ITS: [glares at IT’S] Now wait a minute! I simply show ownership of the noun preceding me. Let me give you some examples.

Even though Wendy insisted on neon pink paint for the window frames, the house still held its timeless character. (The house’s character)

The rain took its toll on Reba’s ornate bouffant hairstyle. (The rain’s toll)

When Joey’s parasailing adventure went awry, the giant oak tree lost one of its branches. (The tree’s branches)

WR: Ah! Got it. The last thing we want to do here at Writer’s Relief is confuse the two of you. We have a reputation to uphold! So, how can writers make sure they use the right one of you when writing?

IT’S: [raises hand] Oooo! Me! Me! Me!

WR: Okay then. Why don’t you tell us, IT’S?

IT’S: Well, in order to use It’s, you must mean to say either it has or it is. If not, you have to go with Its. Here, let me show you what I mean:

Its/It’s true that Jill loves cats almost as much as she loves fluffy socks.

Because you can also say “It is true that Jill loves cats almost as much as she loves fluffy socks,” the correct choice is It’s.

Sabina sang loudly out on her porch, “Every rose has its/it’s thorn!”

Guns N’ Roses is my guilty pleasure. [waves lighter] Since you can’t say “Every rose has it is thorn,” the correct choice is its. No apostrophe.

Now you try!

Wynonna’s bicycle lost its/it’s little bell when she hit a pothole while attempting to outrun the police car.

The bookstore opened in January, and thanks to Erinn’s compulsive reading habit, its/it’s been thriving ever since.

Its/It’s raining cats and dogs in Dave’s living room because the tub upstairs is overflowing.

The safe wouldn’t open because its/it’s locking mechanism was rusted, and Moira had forgotten her sledgehammer.

Thankfully, Kaitlyn’s dog was wearing its/it’s collar and tags when it attempted to commandeer the mail truck.

Cathe can’t come to the party because its/it’s snowing again in Michigan on this Labor Day weekend.

How’d you do? Just follow the simple it is/it has rule and you’ll never be led astray! But here’s a warning from both of us: If you see ITS’ running around in your creative writing or latest text—or anywhere—have her removed immediately by the grammar ghostbusters.

WR: And why is that?

ITS and IT’S: Because she doesn’t exist. No such word!

WR: Okay! Thank you both for being here today. Its/It’s been enlightening!

For more clarification on confusing words in the English language, check out these articles from the Writer’s Relief blog.